Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves: Match Prediction, Injury Report & How to Watch | 16th March 2022

NBA Matchup: Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Date: 16th March 2022

Time: 8:00 pm ET

Two play in teams on the opposite ends of the spectrum. The Minnesota Timberwolves will be taking on the Los Angeles Lakers tonight. Minnesota is fresh off a record-breaking game from their star player. Whereas the Los Angeles Lakers wish they could forget everything that has unfolded this season. The only thing that LA is looking to achieve this season is to make the playoffs and hope for the best. Whereas the Timberwolves want a top 5 seed in the West.

Los Angeles Lakers have played the Minnesota Timberwolves 3 times this season already. The last time these teams played was on 3rd January 2022. 

Who has been winning this season series?

In the 3 games played so far, the Timberwolves are leading this season series 2-1. They picked up the win in the first 2 games these teams played each other. These teams have played each other so long back that a lot of things have changed since then. One instance is that in the first game these teams played, Rajon Rondo led the game in Assists and now plays for the Cavaliers. 

However, the few stand-out points were this. In the games that KAT played, the Lakers lost and KAT was the highest scorer in the game. Even a healthy Anthony Davis could not stop him. LeBron played terribly against a full healthy Wolves team and only played well when KAT was out. 

 

The Lakers’ interior defending has been nonexistent against the Wolves. In the 3 games, the Lakers gave up 162 points in the paint and only scored 86 points themselves. That’s almost double the points coming at very close range. Lakers have been lazy on defense and do not try hard to get the easy points on offense. That’s what has cost them 2 games in this series already. 

Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves prediction

The biggest weakness for the Lakers has been KAT and points in the paint. Unfortunately for them, Towns is fresh off a franchise-record 60 point game. The Timberwolves have 9 wins out of 11 games since the all-star break. Whereas LA has 8 losses in 10 games since the break. 

 

Los Angeles does not have AD to slow down KAT, they don’t have the momentum, the heart on defense, or even the offensive consistency to compete with the Wolves. That’s why the Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to close out this season’s series against the Lakers with a win. 

Injury Report

Los Angeles Lakers:

Anthony Davis: Out (Ankle)

Kendrick Nunn: Out (Knee)

LeBron James: Day-to-day (Knee)

Talen Horton-Tucker: Day-to-day (Ankle)

Minnesota Timberwolves:

Jarred Vanderbilt: Day-to-day (Quad)

Naz Ried: Day-to-day (Back)

Patrick Beverley: Day-to-day  

Jordan McLaughlin: Day-to-day (Groin)

Jaden McDaniels: Out (Ankle)

How to watch the Los Angeles Lakers vs the Minnesota Timberwolves?

You can watch the Los Angeles Lakers play the Minnesota Timberwolves on 16th March 2022 at 8:00 PM ET on FuboTV. You can also watch the game globally on NBA league pass.